Spray gun with paint agitator



NOV- 25, 1968 F. E. CHAMBERLAIN 3,412,937

SPRAY GUN WITH PINT AGITATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 20, 1966 NOV. 26, 1968 F, E CHAMBERLMN 3,412,937

SPRAY GUN WITH PAINT AGITATOR Filed May 20, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent Oce 3,412,937 SPRAY GUN WITH PAINT AGITATOR Frank E. Chamberlain, Varna, Ill., assignor to Binks Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 20, 1966, Ser. No. 551,749 14 Claim. (Cl. 239-142) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An improved spray gun assembly including a uid supply container connected to the spray gun and manually operable trigger means for actuating the spray gun, in combination with agitator means for automatically agitating the fluid rcontents of the supply container, the agitator means being actuated automatically by the trigger means upon each actuation of the latter.

The present invention relates to a spray gun for spraying liquids such -as paint or the like. More specifically, the invention relates to a spra-y gun assem-bly including a paint supply container having improved agitator means for automatically mixing the paint supply in the container each time the spray gun is operated.

It is known that in the spraying of paints and other suspensions by means of a spray gun assembly including 1a spray gun and an associated paint supply container, it is desirable to periodically provide agitation of the paint in the supply container in order to prevent the suspended pigments from settling at the bottom of the container and to produce optimum distribution of the pigment in the vehicle. It will be obvious that in the spraying of various liquids other than paint, it is often necessary to provide for agitation in the supply container in order to effect proper mixing of the various components of the liquid to be sprayed.

It has been common heretofore to provide various types of movable agitator members inside of a paint spray supply container whereby upon manual shaking of the container the agitator member will move about within the container and produce mixing of the contents thereof. However, such an expedient is subject to the disadvantage that it is not automatic, and thus repeated manual shaking of the container is required. Certain automatic agitator mechanisms have also been suggested, but they tend t be relatively complex and quite expensive to manufacture.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a paint spray gun assembly including a suppl-y container having an effective yet simple and inexpensive agitator member for effecting mixing of the contents of the container automatically whenever the spray gun is operated.

In furtherance of the foregoing object, I provide a spray gun assembly including a spray gun of the type having a fmanually operable trigger mechanism for releasing the spray, and an associated supply container having an -agitator member disposed therein. In accordance with the invention, the agitator member is secured to an agitator rod or the like which projects outwardly of the container and is engageable by the spray gun trigger mechanism for `actuation thereby. Consequently, each 3,412,937 Patented Nov. 26, 1968 time an operator squeezes the trigger to produce a spray of paint, the resulting movement of the trigger automatically imparts movement to the agitator within the container to thereby effect mixing of the paint supply stored in the container. The foregoing yagitator mechanism is highly effective in its operation, and yet is quite simple and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a spray gun assembly including a supply container having an improved siphon tube which tends to reduce substantially any settling out of solids within the tube.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description thereof.

Now in order to acquaint those skilled in the art with the manner of practicing and utilizing my invention, I shall describe in conjunction with the :accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a side elevational View of a spray gun assembly embodying automatic agitator mechanism constructed in 'accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary rear elevational view, looking approximately in the `direction of the arrows 2-2 of FIGURE 1, showing in particular an agitator paddle and the manner in `which it is associated with the spray gun trigger mechanism;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional View, taken substantially along the line 3-3 of F-IGURE 2, showing a rotatable bearing mounted in the top closure member for the supply container for supporting the agitator rod while permitting movement thereof;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken substantially along the line 4-4 vof FIGURE 3, showing the manner in which the agitator rod extends through the bearing member and is xed relative thereto;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view showing an alternative embodiment of a spray gun assembly embodying automatic agitator mechanism constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 7 is `a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 7 7 of FIGURE 6.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGURES 1 4, there is shown a paint spray gun assem bly 20 including a spray gun 22, a paint supply container 24, and a top closure member 26 which substantially seals the upper end of the supply container. The spray gun 22 includes a handle 28 having an lair inlet 30 for receiving air under pressure, and an outlet nozzle 32 for emitting a paint spray, the paint being drawn up from the container 24 to the nozzle 32 through a siphon tube 34 having :a lower extension 34 which projects down into the container adjacent the bottom thereof. The spray .gun 22 further includes valve means 36 movable between open and closed positions to control the How of pressurized air through the device, valve means 37 movable between open and closetd positions to control the ow of paint through the nozzle 32, and a manually operable trigger member 38 for controlling operation of the valves 36 and 37. The trigger member 38 is pivotally mounted at its upper end by a pivot pin 40, and the trigger is movable between a closed or inoperative position as shown in solid lines in FIGURE 1 and an open or operative position shown in dash lines therein. The valves 36 and 3-7 are normally biased to `closed position and the trigger 38 is biased thereby to the inoperative position, and it is manually squeezed lby the operator in order to move it to its open or operative position.

The agitator mechanism of the present invention includes a small diameter agitator lcarrying member or rod 42 having an agitator paddle 44 mounted on its lower end by means of a set screw 46. The agitator rod 42 ex. tends through the lcontainer top closure member 26 and is associated with the trigger 38 for actuation by the latter. As best shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, the top closure member 26 includes a boss 48 having a bore 50 formed therein, and a cylindrical bearing 52 is rotatably tmounted within the bore 50, the bearing being rotatable about an axis which is horizontal when the spray assembly is in an upright position as shown in the drawings. The cylindrical bearing 52 has a transverse bore 54 formed therein, and the agitator rod 42 passes through the bore 54 and is fxedly held relative to the bearing by means of a set screw 56 which is threaded axially into one end of the bearing and tightened so las to engage against the rod 42. Accordingly, the rod 42 is iixed relative to the bearing member 52, but is pivotable therewith `a limited amount about the longitudinal axis of the bearing. It will be seen from FIGURES 3 and 4 that the boss 48 is cut away above the bore S0 to form an upper slot or passageway 58, and is also cut away below the bore 50 to form a lower slot or pasageway 60, both such passageways being for the purpose of providing clearance for the rod 42 in order to permit limited pivotal movement of the latter.

As best shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, a guide strap 62 is anchored at its upper end to the back of the pivotal trigger member 38 by means of a screw 64, and the strap 62 extends downwardly alongside the trigger in spaced relation thereto. The upper end of the agitator rod 42 is bifurcated to form arms 66 `and 68 which are interconnected by a transverse rod portion 70. The transverse rod portion 70 is disposed between the trigger 38 and the guide strap 62 so -as to be retained and guided by the latter. Accordingly, movement of the trigger 38 about its pivot 40 from the position shown in solid lines in FIG- URE l to the position shown in dash lines therein will produce a corresponding pivotal movement of the iagitator rod 42 about the axis of the bearing 52 from the solid line position of FIGURE 1 to the dash line position shown therein. It will be understood that during such pivotal movement ofthe rod 42, the upper end of the rod will move along the guide strap 62 nvhile being retained between the latter and the trigger 38.

It will be seen from FIGURES l and 2 that the Iagitator paddle 44 is approximately triangular in shape and is bent so as to present a generally concave front face. Moreover, the paddle is -mounted on the rod 42 so las to be disposed closely adjacent the lower end of the container 24 and to be movable from the rear corner thereof toward and away from the lower end of the Siphon tube extension 34. Thus, each time the trigger 38- is moved from Vits closed or inoperative position as shown in solid lines in FIGURE 1 to its open or operative position shown in dash lines therein, or vice versa, the rod 42 is pivoted about the axis of the cylindrical bearing 52 causing the paddle 44 to sweep across the lower end of the supply jar 24 thereby agitating the paint supply in the jar and producing a homogeneous suspension of the pigment in the vehicle. Such agitation of the contents of the jar 24 is entirely automatic, and yet is produced by relatively simple and inexpensive mechanism. Moreover, due to the provision of the rotatable bearing member 52 for pivotally mounting the agitator rod 42, the rod can project through the top closure member 26 and move relative thereto without impairing the ability of the top closure member to substantially seal the upper end of the container 24.

A further feature of the present invention which is illustrated in FIGURE l comprises a spiral member 72 made from an elongated thin flat strip or ribbon of metal or other suitable material Iwhich is twisted several times about its longitudinal axis. The twisted strip or ribbon 72 is positioned inside of the Siphon tube extension 34 and Siphon tube 34 and provides a plurality of inclined surfaces which impart a tumbling action to the paint or other iiuid material being sprayed as the latter falls back down the siphon tube upon discontinuance of a spraying operation. As the paint or other tluid material engages the inclined surfaces for-med by the spiral member 72, the solids are put back into solution, and the spiral member 72 thus serves to minimize any settling out of solids within the Siphon tube.

Reference is now made to FIGURES 5-7 which illustrate an alternative embodiment of the present invention. FIGURE 5 shows a spray' gun 22', a paint supply container 24', and a top closure member 26 which substantially seals the upper end of the supply container. The spray gun 22 includes a handle 28 having an air inlet 30 for receiving air under pressure, and an outlet nozzle 32' for emitting a paint spray, the paint being drawn up from the container 24' to the nozzle 32' through a siphon tube 35 having a lower extension 35. The spray gun 22 further includes air valve means 36 and fluid valve means 37 and a manually operable trigger member 38' for controlling the operation of the valves 36 and 37. The trigger member 38' is pivotally mounted at its ripper end by a pivot pin 40', and the trigger is movable between a normally closed or inoperative position as shown in solid lines in FIGURE 5 and an open or operative position as shown in dash lines therein.

An agitator 'rod 42 has an agitator paddle 44 mounted on its lower end by means of a set screw 46' and the rod extends through the container top closure member 26 and is engageable by the trigger 38 for actuation by the latter. The top closure member 26 includes a boss 74 having a bore 76 formed therein which`terminates at an annular shoulder 78. The remaining wall portion 80 has a reduced diameter bore 82 therein which communicates with the bore 76. A cylindrical bearing 84 is rotatably mounted within the bore 76, and the bearing is provided at one end with a reduced diameter shaft portion 86 which projects into the smaller bore 82 in the wall 80. The cylindrical bearing 84 has a transverse bore 88 formed therein, and the agitator rod 42 passes through the bore 88 and is iixedly held relative to the bearing by means of a set screw 90 which is threaded into the end of the shaft portion 86 and tightened so as to engage against the rod 42. The rod 42 is thus Iiixed relative to the bearing member 84 but is pivotable therewith a limited amount about-the longitudinal axis yof the bearing. As shown in FIGURES 5 and 6, the boss 74 is cut away above the bore 76 to form an upper slot or passageway 92, and is also cut away below the bore 76 to form a lower slot or passageway 94, both such passage'ways being for the purpose of providing clearance for the rod 42' and to permit limited pivotal movement of the latter.

A torsion spring 96 is positioned in the bore 76 so as to encompass the reduced diameter shaft portion 86, and one end 98 of the spring is anchored in the wall 80 while the other end 99 of the spring is anchored at a bearing shoulder 100 at the inner end of the shaft 86. Accordingly, the torsion spring 96 interconnects the rotatable bearing 84 with the iixed boss 74 and serves as a return spring since it biases the bearing 84 and the agitator rod 42 toward the positions shown in solid lines in FIGURE 5. The -upper end 102 of the agitator rod 42 lies immedi` ately behind the trigger member 38 so that movement of the trigger about its pivot 40' from the position shown in solid lines in FIGURE 5 to the position shown in dash lines therein will produce a corresponding pivotal movement of the agitator rod 42 about the axis of the bearing 84 from the solid line position of FIGURE 5 to the dash line position shown therein.

In the embodiment being described there is no guide strap mounted on the trigger member 38" for returning the rod 42 when the trigger returns to its original position. However, as soon as the trigger member 38' is released and permitted to return to the position shown in solid lines in FIGURE 5, the torsion return spring 96 will act on the bearing 84 to rotate the latter together with the agitator rod 42' back to their original positions. Thus, the return spring 96 will tend to maintain the upper end 102 of the rod 42 immediately behind the trigger member 38 at all times, although during pivotal movement of the rod the upper end thereof will move along the length of the trigger as can be seen from FIGURE 5. The agitator mechanism shown in FIGURES 5-7 can be used in conjunction with substantially any type of spray gun without need for modification of the latter, and in addition it permits manual agitation of the contents of the container 24 at any time without actuating the trigger member 38 since an operator can manipulate the upper end 102 of the agitator rod independently of the trigger member.

While I have described my invention in certain preferred forms, I do not intend to be limited to such forms, except insofar as the appended claims are so limited, since modifications coming within the scope of my invention will be readily apparent to others, particularly with my disclosure before them.

I claim:

1. In a spray gun assembly of the type including a hand operated spray gun and an associated supply container, the improvement comprising agitating mechanism for yautomatically mixing the contents of the supply container including, in combination, manually operable trigger means on said spray gun for controlling the emission of spray therefrom, an agitator carrying member one end of which extends into the interior of said container and the other end of which projects outside of said container, and agitator means disposed inside of said container and at said one end of said carrying member, the other end of said agitator carrying member being positioned for engagement by said trigger means so that movement of said trigger imparts movement to Said carrying member and consequently to said agitator, whereby upon each actuation of said trigger means said agitator will be moved within said container to agitate the contents thereof.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said supply container is provided with a top closure member and wherein said agitator carrying member projects through said top closure mem-ber.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said agitator carrying member comprises a small diameter rod member and wherein said agitator is mounted on said one end of said rod so as to be movable along a path proximate to the lower end of said supply container.

4. The invention of claim 2 wherein said trigger means moves along a path approximately transverse to the length of said agitator carrying member thereby causing generally pivotal movement of said carrying member about an axis proximate where said carrying member projects through said top closure member.

5. In a spray gun assembly of the type including a hand operated spray gun and an associated supply container, the improvement comprising agitating mechanism for automatically mixing the contents of the supply container including, in combination, manually operable trigger means on said spray gun for controlling the emission of spray therefrom, a top closure member for said container, an agitator carrying member which extends through said top closure member, said agitator carrying ,member having a first end which extends into the interior of said container and a second end which projects outside of said container, and agitator means disposed inside of said supply container and mounted on said first end of said carrying member so as to be positioned proximate the lower end of said container, said second end of said `agitator carrying member being positioned for engagement by said trigger means so that movement of said trigger imparts .movement to said carrying member and consequently to said agitator, whereby upon each actuation of said trigger means said agitator will be moved within said container to agitate the contents thereof, said trigger means being -movable along a path approximately transverse to the length of said agitator carrying member thereby causing generally pivotal movement of said carrying member about an axis proximate where said carrying member projects through said top closure member.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein said top closure member has a rotatable bearing mounted thereon, and said agitator carrying member projects through said bearing so as to be rotatable therewith.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein said agitator carrying member is fixed relative to said bearing while being rotatable therewith, and where said second end of said carrying member is movable relative to said trigger while maintaining an operative relationship therewith.

8. The invention of claim 7 wherein said bearing member comprises a cylindrical bearing which is mounted in said closure cap for rotation about the longitudinal axis of said bearing.

9. The invention of claim 8 wherein said agitator carrying member extends transversely through said cylindrical bearing and wherein set screw means is threaded axially into one end of said bearing to engage said carrying member and tix the same relative to said bearing.

10. The invention of claim 1 including a return spring for returning said carrying member to its original position after being actuated by said trigger means.

11. In a spray gun assembly of the type including a hand operated spray gun and an associated supply container, the improvement comprising -agitating mechanism for automatically mixing the contents of the supply container including, in combination, manually operable trigger means on said spray gun for controlling the emission of spray therefrom, a top closure member for said container, -an agitator carrying member which extends through said top closure member, said agitator carrying member having a tirst end which extends into the interior of said container and a second end which projects outside of said container, agitator means disposed inside of said supply container and mounted on said iirst end of said carrying member so as to be positioned proximate the lower end of said container, said second end of said agitator carrying member ybeing disposed adjacent said trigger means for engagement thereby so that movement of said trigger imparts movement to said carrying member and consequently to said agitator whereby upon each actuation of said trigger means said agitator will be moved within said container to agitate the contents thereof, said second end of said agitator carrying member also being manually movable independently of said trigger means, and a return spring for returning said carrying member to its original position after being actuated by said trigger means.

12. The invention of claim 11 wherein said top closure member has a rotatable bearing mounted thereon and said agitator carrying member projects through said bearing so as to be rotatable therewith, and wherein said return spring comprises a torsion spring located in proximity to said rotatable bearing and anchored relative to said top closure member.

13. In a spray gun assembly of the type including a hand operated spray gun having a nozzle, an associated supply container, and an air passage in said spray gun for receiving air under pressure therein to cause the emission of fluid material from said supply container through 3,412,937 7 8 said nozzle, the improvement comprising, in combination, References Cited a tube having one end connected with said spray gun and a second end which projects into said container proximate UNITED STATE PATENTS the lower end thereof, and an elongated spiral member 3,099,394 7/ 1963 Lynn 239-142 positioned inside of said tube and extending therein for 5 a substantial portion of the length of said tube for impart- FOREIGN PATENTS ing a tumbling action to uid material falling downwardly 503,563 11 /195 1 Belgium,

in said tube and thereby minimizing sedimentation of 728,055 4/ 1932 France,

fluid material in said tube.

14. The invention of claim 13 wherein said spiral mem- 10 M. HENSON WOOD, JR., Primary Examiner.

ber comprises an elongated strip of material which is l A twisted a plurality of times about its longitudinal axis. M' Y' MAR Assistant Emmmel' 

